Freezing rain forces school closures across much of the province

Freezing rain has forced many schools across the province to close on Tuesday.

All schools in the Anglophone North, Francophone North-West and Francophone North-East School Districts are closed.

In the Anglophone West School District schools in Edmundston are closed.

In the Francophone South School District schools in Baie Sainte-Anne, Miramichi, Rogersville, Richibucto and Saint-Louis de Kent are closed.

- New Brunswick Storm Centre

- Up to 15 mm of freezing rain set to fall over northern N.B.

Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning for much of the province.

The highest accumulations are expected over the central and eastern parts of northern New Brunswick where upwards of 15 millimetres of freezing rain is possible.

"A low pressure system is slowly approaching New Brunswick bringing a mixture of ice pellets or flurries to northern New Brunswick and showers in southern New Brunswick this evening," the weather agency said.

"Precipitation will change to freezing rain tonight and persist into Tuesday."

More rain on the way

Meanwhile, a rainfall warning is in effect for the Fredericton, Grand Lake, Grand Manan, Saint John, St. Stephen and Sussex areas where up to 40 mm of rain is expected.

The weather agency said parts of the province can expect strong easterly winds Tuesday into Wednesday morning, with higher than normal water levels expected in the Bay of Chaleur during high tide early morning on Wednesday.

Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. Environment Canada also said poor weather conditions may contribute to transportation delays.

"While conditions are stable for now there will be some rising water levels in the waterways of the province due to the rain and residents should continue to be vigilant in the event of any ice blockages developing," said CBC's weather centre.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the low pressure system, it will be mostly cloudy with scattered showers for the region on Wednesday.

New Brunswick forecast

Northern New Brunswick

Today: Cloudy with freezing rain turning to rain in the morning and near noon. There is a risk of several millimetres of ice accretion. Rainfall amounts will vary between 10 and 20 mm with easterly winds gusting between 30 and 50 km/h. Temperatures will be at a high near 5 C.

Tonight: Cloudy with rain easing to showers and fog. Northeasterly winds will travel between 10 and 20 km/h with temperatures near 1 C.

Wednesday: Fog patches will dissipate in the morning. Mostly cloudy with a few showers or flurries. Westerly winds will be travelling between 10 and 20 km/h. Temperatures will be at a high between 3 C and 6 C.

Fredericton and area

Today: Rain will be heavy at times and fog. Rainfall amounts will vary between 25 and 40 mm. Easterly winds will be gusting between 30 and 50 km/h. Temperatures will be at a high near 9 C.

Tonight: Cloudy with rain easing to showers and fog. Southerly winds will be travelling between 10 and 20 km/h. Temperatures are expected to drop to 2 C.

Wednesday: Fog dissipating in the morning, mostly cloudy with a few showers. Westerly winds will be travelling between 10 and 20 km/h. Temperatures will be at a high of 5 C.

Southern New Brunswick

Today: Rain that will be heavy at times with a chance of thundershowers. Total rainfall amounts will be between 25 and 40 mm. Easterly winds will be travelling between 30 and 50 km/h. Temperatures will be at a high around 9 C and 12 C.

Tonight: Rain easing to showers and fog. Southwesterly winds will be travelling between 20 and 40 km/h. Temperatures will drop to a low near 2 C.

Wednesday: Fog patches dissipating in the morning. Mostly cloudy with a few showers and southwesterly winds travelling at 20 km/h to 40 km/h. Temperatures will be at a high between 5 C and 7 C.